"I didn't expect she would suffer so much during pregnancy," Hei Yao murmured, feeling deeply distressed.
"Indeed, carrying a child is no easy task," Bai Di said, his gaze filled with heartache as he looked at Si Lu's pale face. Offspring are precious, but females are even more valuable!
"This is one of those conditions where it's a problem, but not really a disease. When will she fully recover?" Hei Yao asked worriedly as he kept his eyes on Si Lu.
"It varies. Some recover quickly, while others won't recover until after they give birth. In some cases, it may even take a while after the birth for them to return to normal," Bai Di explained. "We have to trust that Si Lu will be fine. But we must also be careful and inform Cheng Mo and the others to stay vigilant. That's all we can do for now."
Hei Yao nodded in agreement, "Yes, that's all we can do."
Bai Di then noticed something alarming: "Your wound is bleeding."
Though the injury hadn't reopened entirely, there was noticeable blood. If the wound had torn open, Hei Yao would have to endure the painful process of stitching it again, using his own hair as thread.
"I'm fine. As long as Lulu is okay, that's what matters most," Hei Yao replied, his eyes never leaving Si Lu's face. Seeing her resting peacefully finally allowed him to breathe a little easier.
Bai Di, however, insisted, "Let me take care of your wound. Lulu's fine for now, so don't worry." He knew that if Si Lu woke up to see Hei Yao's injury, she would undoubtedly feel even more unsettled. They had to avoid causing her any distress or emotional swings right now, especially with her delicate condition.
"Okay," Hei Yao agreed after glancing at his wound. He realized the injury did look alarming, and Si Lu might have been terrified if she saw it earlier. He should've been more careful.
Bai Di proceeded to clean the wound with spiritual spring water, which was known to speed up healing. While the rain had momentarily stopped, the weather looked like it could shift again at any moment. Between Si Lu's condition and Hei Yao's injury, continuing their journey was now out of the question.
Once Hei Yao's wound was tended to, Bai Di stood up. "You stay with Lulu. If anything happens, call me. I'll be outside gathering food for when she wakes up."
Cheng Mo and the others had gone hunting, leaving only Bai Di and Hei Yao behind. But with Hei Yao injured, Bai Di had to make sure there was food available for Si Lu and her unborn children.
"I'll stay with her. Don't worry, I'll call you if anything changes," Hei Yao assured him, though his heart was still full of worry for Si Lu.
Watching her so vulnerable, he couldn't help but feel guilty. His own carelessness had caused this situation.
As Bai Di left to gather food, Hei Yao sat beside Si Lu, quietly watching over her. His heart ached as he gently touched her pale face, blaming himself for her current state.
Time passed, and by noon, Cheng Mo and the others had returned from their hunt. Bai Di had already informed them of what had happened, and they all stood guard outside the tree hole, not wanting to disturb Si Lu's rest.
"I've seen this before and heard other orcs talk about it," Song Zhan said, leaning against a tree. "It's not serious if you take precautions, but it can be if we're careless. We just need to stay alert."
Despite his words, his eyes were filled with worry. No one wanted to see anything happen to Si Lu.
Cheng Mo, always the steady leader, addressed the group with a warning, "We need to take care of Lulu. As Bai Di said, be cautious with your words and actions around her. We can't risk upsetting her. Pay attention to her emotions at all times."
Cheng Mo himself felt a heavy burden of guilt. Si Lu was pregnant with his cub, and he couldn't help but feel responsible for her condition.
He wished he had been more careful; maybe he had delayed her pregnancy. If it came down to choosing between the cubs and Si Lu, he would choose her without hesitation. Her safety was far more important than having cubs.
"I agree. We must be vigilant and mindful of her feelings," Bai Di added as he worked.
Nance, standing quietly by, finally spoke up, "I'll be careful too. I won't say anything unnecessary, and I'll keep an eye on her."
He liked Si Lu, and like the others, he didn't want to see her hurt. The situation was indeed serious, and they all needed to do their part.
Cheng Mo and the others looked at Nance and nodded seriously. Everyone was on the same page now: Si Lu's well-being was their top priority.